Sep 10 – The Word of God!

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10)

A thief in this world takes away, often by force, the money that people have earned through years of hard work and careful saving. Satan, too, is a thief. He seeks to steal our joy. He seeks to steal our peace. Above all, he seeks to steal the Word of God that has been sown in our hearts.

When the Gospel is proclaimed and the seed of the Word is sown, some of the seed falls by the wayside, and the birds come and devour it (Matthew 13:4). Explaining this, Jesus said:

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” (Matthew 13:19)

The Word of God that has been sown in your heart is spirit and life. Those seeds have the potential to produce fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even a hundredfold. If you carefully guard the Word in your heart so that Satan cannot steal it away, you will continue to grow in holiness and in your walk with God.

All Scripture is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is precious beyond measure. The psalmist says: “More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:10)

The Word of the Lord is pure and precious, refined like silver. The psalmist declares: “The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.” (Psalm 12:6)

And again: “The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” (Psalm 119:72) Therefore, be watchful so that you do not fall into the hands of the thief.

Consider the man who was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Suddenly, thieves attacked him. “They stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.” (Luke 10:30) Notice that the man was unable to resist the robbers. He did not have the sword with which to fight them.

When Satan, the thief, came to tempt Jesus, however, our Lord stood against him with the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—and overcame him. Therefore, the Scripture instructs us: “And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

The Word of God is not merely a book of information. It is living and powerful: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Dear children of God, read, meditate upon, and memorize the Scriptures as much as you possibly can. Store the Word deeply in your heart. When the Word of God is firmly established within you, Satan cannot stand against it.

Verse for further meditation: “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)